As part of the 9th edition of the International Light Festival – Spotlight, organized by the Bucharest City Hall through ARCUB – the Cultural Center of the Municipality of Bucharest, both the general public and professionals in the field of visual arts are invited to SPOTLIGHT TALKS 2025, a two-day conference program taking place on October 10–11, 2025, at ARCUB – Sala Mare (84–90 Lipscani Street).
Organized by ARCUB, the event brings to Bucharest for the first time leading international professionals from the world’s major light festivals — artists, curators, and festival directors who will share their experiences, case studies, and innovations in the field of visual art. For two days, Hanul Gabroveni will be transformed into a vibrant hub for international dialogue and creative exchange.
Spotlight Talks 2025 features two days of presentations, round tables, and networking sessions, bringing together visual artists, curators, producers, and festival organizers from Romania and abroad. The goal is to create a space for dialogue and the exchange of best practices, while also encouraging future collaborations between cultural institutions and the creative industries.
Participation in Spotlight Talks 2025 is free of charge, and access is based on an online reservation at bilete.arcub.ro. As seats are limited, organizers recommend that those interested secure their reservations early. The detailed program of Spotlight Talks 2025, held on October 10–11 at ARCUB – Sala Mare, is available on arcub.ro and spotlightfestival.ro.
International Speakers in Bucharest
The lineup of distinguished guests includes:
Anastasia Isachsen – artist and director, Fjord Oslo Light Festival (Norway)
Davy & Kristin McGuire – visual artists, Studio McGuire
Marcello Arosio – artist and director, Kernel Festival / Onda Festival (Italy)
Marko Bolković – director, Visualia Festival (Croatia)
Linartas Urniežis – visual artist, Studio Video Architects
Tamás Vásvári – producer, Maxin10sity; co-founder, Borealis Light Festival (USA)
Patrick Grandi – visual artist, Rencontres Audiovisuelles
Olivier Clape – Aerosculpture
Julien Menzel – visual artist
Marc Sicard – artist, Luminariste
Pierre Froment – founder, Groupe LAPS
Conference Schedule
Day 1 – Friday, October 10, 2025 | 14:30 – 22:00
The conference will open with speeches by Mihaela Păun, Director of ARCUB, and Adrian Damian, curator of Spotlight 2025, followed by a round table discussion on the future of video mapping. The program continues with individual presentations by Anastasia Isachsen (artist and director, Fjord Oslo Light Festival, Norway), Marko Bolković (director, Visualia Festival, Croatia), and Marcello Arosio (artist and director, Kernel Festival, Italy). The evening concludes with a guided tour of the Spotlight 2025 route.
Day 2 – Saturday, October 11, 2025 | 12:00 – 20:45
The second day opens with a round table featuring Spotlight 2025 artists, who will discuss their artworks presented at this year’s edition of the International Light Festival – Spotlight Bucharest, as well as their creative processes. The program also includes presentations by Linartas Urniežis, Patrick Grandi, and the duo Davy & Kristin McGuire, followed by a panel discussion on the power of light festivals, moderated by curator Adrian Damian, with international directors and curators Anastasia Isachsen, Marko Bolković, Marcello Arosio, and Tamás Vásvári.
